Industrial and Production Engineering

Terminology for Limit and Tolerance

Shaft: Refers to the diameter of a circular shaft as well as to any
external dimension on a component.

Hole: Refers to diameter of a circular hole as well as to any

internal dimension on a component.

Basic Size: It is the standard size for the part and is same for
both the hole and its shaft. This size is obtained by calculation for
strength.

Limit & Tolerance

Industrial and Production Engineering

Terminology for Limit and Tolerance

Actual Size: Actual size is the dimension measured on a
manufactured part.

Limits of Size: These are the maximum and minimum

permissible sizes of the part.

Maximum Limits: Maximum limit is the maximum size

permitted for the part.

Limit & Tolerance

Industrial and Production Engineering

Terminology for Limit and Tolerance

Minimum Limits: Minimum limit is the minimum size
permitted for the part.

Tolerance: Tolerance is the difference between maximum limit

of size and minimum limit of size.

Allowance: Allowance is an intentional difference between the

maximum material limits of mating parts. For shaft, the maximum
material limit will be its high limit and for hole, it will be its low
limit.

Limit & Tolerance

Industrial and Production Engineering

Terminology for Limit and Tolerance

Deviation: It is the algebraic difference between a size and the
corresponding basic size.
Actual Deviation: It is the algebraic difference between an
actual size and the corresponding basic size.
Upper Deviation: It is the algebraic difference between the
maximum limit of size and the corresponding basic size.

Limit & Tolerance

Industrial and Production Engineering

Terminology for Limit and Tolerance

Lower Deviation: It is the algebraic difference between the
minimum limit of size and the corresponding basic size.
Zero Line: It is a line of zero deviation, represents basic size.
Fundamental Deviation: This is the deviation, either the
upper or the lower deviation, which is the nearest one to the zero line
for either a hole or a shaft.
Tolerance Zone: It is the zone bounded by the two limits of
size of a part in the graphical presentation of tolerance.

Limit & Tolerance